Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch He made me start off on the wrong foot. I was trying to explain to that darn lady teacher why he didn't have no money for his lunch, and she got sore at me.
Played by Mary Badham 
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) · 57 quotes
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) · 57 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962): in 15 of its 57 quotes
Most scenes with: Atticus Finch (7)
I still don't see why I have to wear a darn old dress.
More lines from Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch
5 quotes Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch [about Walter]
He's gone and drown-ded his dinner in syrup and then he's pourin' it all over.
Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch I said, 'Hey,' Mr. Cunningham. How's your entailment getting along? [He turns and looks away] Don't you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I'm Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some hickory nuts one early morning, remember? We had a talk. I went and got my daddy to come out and thank you. I go to school with your boy. I go to school with Walter. He's a nice boy. Tell him 'hey' for me, won't you? You know something, Mr. Cunningham, entailments are bad. Entailments...Atticus, I was just saying to Mr. Cunningham that entailments were bad but not to worry. Takes a long time sometimes...What's the matter? I sure meant no harm, Mr. Cunningham.
Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch [to Boo, about Jem]
You can pet him, Mr. Arthur. He's asleep. Couldn't if he was awake, though. He wouldn't let you. Go ahead.
Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch Hey Boo.
Scenes with Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch
9 scenes
Scout
Is he poor?
Yes.
Scout
Are we poor?
We are indeed.
Scout
Are we as poor as the Cunninghams?
No, not exactly. The Cunninghams are country folks, farmers. The crash hit them the hardest.
Scout
Hey Miss Dubose.
Mrs. Dubose Don't you say "hey" to me you ugly girl!
Good Afternoon Miss Dubose... My, you look like a picture this afternoon.
Scout
[hiding behind Atticus whispering to Jem and Dill]
He don't say a picture of what.
Scout
Atticus, do you think Boo Radley ever really comes and looks in my window at night? Jem says he does. This afternoon when we were over by their house...
Scout. I told you and Jem to leave those poor people alone. I want you to stay away from their house and stop tormentin' them.
Scout
Yes, sir.
Well, I think that's all the reading for tonight, honey. It's gettin' late.
Scout
What time is it?
Eight-thirty.
Scout
May I see your watch? [reading] 'To Atticus, My Beloved Husband.' Atticus, Jem says this watch is gonna belong to him some day.
That's right.
Scout
Why?
Well, customary for the boy to have his father's watch.
Scout
What are you gonna give me?
Well, I don't know that I have much else of value that belongs to me. But there's a pearl necklace - and there's a ring that belonged to your mother. And I've put them away and they're to be yours.
Scout
How old was I when Mama died?
Two.
Scout
How old were you?
Six.
Scout
Old as I am now.
Uh, huh.
Scout
Was Mama pretty?
Uh, huh.
Scout
Was Mama nice?
Uh, huh.
Scout
Did you love her?
Yes.
Scout
Did I love her?
Yes.
Scout
Do you miss her?
Uh, huh.
Do you know what a compromise is?
Scout
Bendin' the law?
Uh, no. It's an agreement reached by mutual consent. Now, here's the way it works. You concede the necessity of goin' to school, we'll keep right on readin' the same every night, just as we always have. Is that a bargain?
There just didn't seem to be anyone or anything Atticus couldn't explain. Though it wasn't a talent that would arouse the admiration of any of our friends, Jem and I had to admit he was very good at that, but that was all he was good at, we thought.
Scout
Atticus, do you defend ****?
Don't say '****,' Scout.
Scout
I didn't say it...Cecil Jacobs did. That's why I had to fight him.
Scout, I don't want you fightin'!
Scout
I had to, Atticus, he...
I don't care what the reasons are. I forbid you to fight. There are some things that you're not old enough to understand just yet. There's been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn't do much about defending this man.
Scout
If you shouldn't be defending him, then why are you doing it?
For a number of reasons. The main one is that if I didn't, I couldn't hold my head up in town. I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do somethin' again. You're gonna hear some ugly talk about this in school. But I want you to promise me one thing...that you won't get into fights over it, no matter what they say to you.
Scout
Hey Boo.
Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley. I believe he already knows you.
Scout
Mr. Tate was right.
What do you mean?
Scout
Well, it would be sort of like shooting a mockingbird, wouldn't it?
